Q&A with Tustin Unified Teacher of the Year Cindy Ellis

1st grade teacher Cindy Ellis and her class were shocked when a group of board members entered her classroom bearing balloons and good news. Ellis has been teaching for a total of 17 years, 8 of which have been spent at Tustin Ranch Elementary School. ///ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 0321 &#208; tu.teachers.0321 &#208; MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER &#208; Three winners of the TUSD 2013 Teachers of the Year award were surprised with the news that they had won.MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Cindy Ellis teaches first grade at Tustin Ranch Elementary School. She was awarded a two-year Cotsen Fellowship in 2009, which paid for her to travel around the country attending teaching seminars and learning from other innovative instructors. Ellis says she has brought the techniques she learned on the road back to Tustin Ranch Elementary and has shared them with her fellow teachers.

Q.Why did you become a teacher?

A. I have always been a little teacher, starting in third grade. When I finished my work, I would help the other kids and even helped the teacher grade papers. Then as I got older, people would come to me for help with school. I always admired my teachers and their job, so when I went to college, it was just a given that I would go into education.

Q.What do you love about teaching?

A. When you can get 30 6- and 7-year-olds to hang on every single word and you're watching their faces and their little brains thinking. It just keeps me going. Of course, when they go out and put these lessons into practice, I just think it's the greatest thing in the world.

Q.What is the most difficult part?

A. Holding all the kids' attention. It's planning and implementing an interesting and engaging lesson. That's the most difficult part and the reason why if it's working, it's so wonderful.

Q.What have the kids taught you?

A. They've taught me to appreciate individuality. To appreciate differences, and that we do not learn in the same way. They've taught me an unconditional love. I've learned to have that when I walk into my classroom each day. You have to have that.

Q.What advice would you give to a new elementary school teacher?

A. Having a very specific routine that the students know and can follow. Kids love routines. It's part of their development. If you can create procedures and routines for everything, then your class is set and you can start teaching. You have to teach your kids to think, to be metacognitive, which is being able to think and talk about our thinking. If kids learn to stop, listen, think and process, it's amazing what can happen. They can problem-solve almost anything.

Related Links

1st grade teacher Cindy Ellis and her class were shocked when a group of board members entered her classroom bearing balloons and good news. Ellis has been teaching for a total of 17 years, 8 of which have been spent at Tustin Ranch Elementary School. ///ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 0321 Ð tu.teachers.0321 Ð MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER Ð Three winners of the TUSD 2013 Teachers of the Year award were surprised with the news that they had won. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
First-grade teacher Cindy Ellis was all smiles after learning that she had been named Teacher of the Year. Board members made an unannounced visit to her classroom at Tustin Ranch Elementary School to surprise her with the news last Thursday morning. ///ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 0321 Ð tu.teachers.0321 Ð MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER Ð Three winners of the TUSD 2013 Teachers of the Year award were surprised with the news that they had won. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Lynn Davis, Francine Scinto, First-grade teacher, Cindy Ellis, Jonathan Abelove, Dr. Greg Franklin, along with Ellis' first grade students assemble for a quick celebratory photo after Ellis was surprised with the news that she had won Teacher of the Year. ///ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 0321 Ð tu.teachers.0321 Ð MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER Ð Three winners of the TUSD 2013 Teachers of the Year award were surprised with the news that they had won. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
First-grade teacher Cindy Ellis alternates between laughing and crying after she found out that she won Teacher of the Year. ///ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 0321 Ð tu.teachers.0321 Ð MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER Ð Three winners of the TUSD 2013 Teachers of the Year award were surprised with the news that they had won. MACKENZIE REISS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.